Port #58:Green Turtle Cay…Making New Friends and Meeting the Natives

Great Loop II Date: 04/18/2015

Day #260 (Saturday) 23.2 miles (3557 total miles)

Locks: 0 (30 total locks)

Bridges: 0 (4 total bridges)

Port #58: Green Turtle Cay, BS

Marina: Bluff House Marina and Resort, White Sound

Our night was peaceful.  OB’s turning with the tides didn’t allow any benefit from the constant south winds.  Once again we had to rely on our little battery operated camp fan.  It has become a life saver!

The morning dawned with a few showers in the area.  We had a fairly good ride through the Sea of Abaco to Green Turtle Cay.  We came through the entry to White Sound at descending tide.  It was a little shallow in spots be very doable.  Since this is our first trip in the Abacos, we don’t have local knowledge and rely on printed material from those who have come through before us.  So far everything has been spot on.

We docked at The Bluff House Marina and Resort.  The dockmaster was a sweet young man and helped us every step of the way.  The docks are at an angle and typical stern-in, piling tie.  The angle is what makes sterning in a little difficult but the Captain brought us in well.

OB at her dock in Bluff House Marina.

The Captain found his resting spot at the Tranquil Turtle...the beach side of the Bluff House Resort.

The Tranquil Turtle.

A palm used by lots of tourists for pictures...at the Tranquil Turtle Beach.

Half way up the hill from the marina going to the Tranquil Turtle beach on the other side of the resort.  Walking this gave us lots of exercise.  OB is right in the middle of the picture.

Last month’s special was to spend two nights get the third night free.  This month’s special was free breakfast every morning.  Not a bad deal since their cook was AWESOME!

We took the dinghy to Black Sound to the downtown area...New Plymouth.

The Anglican Church in New Plymouth.

One of the houses on the waterfront...the market is the little building to the right with the golf cart in the parking lot.

We rented a golf cart with another couple on our last day there so we could explore New Plymouth, the downtown area on Green Turtle Cay.  It was an interesting trip on wild roads.  Todd learned to drive on the left side in very narrow streets.

A newer house near the Leeward Yacht Club and Lazy Lizard.

Lazy Lizard...good food and good beverages.

Todd and Doug looking downtown from the Wrecking Tree restaurant.

The Wrecking Tree...more good food.  It got its name from the days of pirates and schooners.  When a schooner would wreck on the reefs in the surrounding areas, pirates would raid them and bring their booty to this tree to trade for cash and gold.

Laundry day...native housing in New Plymouth.

Walking down the streets of New Plymouth...yes, these were the streets for cars, golf carts and people.  No sidewalks for the most part.

Memorial Sculpture Garden in New Plymouth...

...dedicated to the native Bahamians and the Loyalist settlers.

Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar...home of the original Goombay Smash.

The school children happened by while we were at Miss Emily's...Coco, Doug and Dari's dog, was a huge hit with them.  They were 4th through 6th graders.

The conch graveyard at the Pineapple Bar and Grill.

So far our only problem on this part of the adventure is the constant prevailing winds.  Waters that are usually crystal clear displaying beautiful aquariums to the ocean floor are marred with ripples that distort the view.  Traveling is rocky but not uncomfortable for the most part.  We are changing destinations to adjust to the conditions hoping to pick up those passed by as we return up the Abacos.